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(02/25/15 11:52pm)
Since coach Sunny Golloway’s second season began, he’s preached to the team about adversity and toughness. For a few innings Wednesday night, it looked as if the Auburn Tigers might fall victim to that adversity, but the offense got rolling to hold off the Alabama State Hornets at home, 7-5, and bounce back from a disappointing loss the night before in Mobile.
(02/24/15 7:21am)
Auburn baseball secured the three-game sweep against Radford with a 6-0 victory Sunday, Feb. 22, at Plainsman Park.
(02/23/15 9:44pm)
Auburn raced out to an early 4-1 lead, but the pitching staff unraveled late and the visiting Tigers fell to South Alabama 7-4 in Mobile.
After South Alabama starter Jared Gates was pulled from the game following a 3-run first inning, Austin Bembnowski came on in relief and threw eight scoreless innings to secure the victory.
In his second start of the season, Keegan Thompson (1-1) pitched 5.1 innings, but was pulled after allowing five runs on eight hits.
Anfernee Grier went 3-for-4 and reached base four times, but the rest of the Tiger offense couldn't string enough hits together to build a rally.
With the loss, Auburn drops to 2-2 on the season. The Tigers return to action Wednesday, Feb 18 at 3 p.m. at Plainsman Park, where they will face Alabama State.
(02/24/15 12:12am)
For the first five innings, the Auburn Tigers were being no-hit by the visiting Binghamton Bearcats.
(02/24/15 12:13am)
A solid Tiger bullpen kept Binghamton off the scoreboard Friday, Feb. 13, but it was a short leash for Auburn's pitchers Saturday, Feb. 14, at Plainsman Park.
Auburn went through six pitchers in its 11-5 loss to Binghamton in the second game of the weekend series.
Trey Wingenter allowed five hits and two runs; Kevin Davis, two runs; Jacob Milliman, three hits and two runs; Will Thompson, one hit and one run; Dalton Rentz, three hits and three runs; Issac Yarborough, two hits and two runs.
Auburn's offense had 11 hits, but 10 strikeouts with four strikeouts in the six hole.
Binghamton pitching kept Auburn in check for the most part and showed what they can do at the plate.
"I think we loss some focus on the mound," said head coach Sunny Golloway. "When you're behind, I think it is easy to lose focus. We've got to develop some maturity on the mound and not lose focus. It's going to take games to do that."
Trey Wingenter pitched four innings, the most for the Tigers Feb. 14, but
allowed two runs to open things up for the Bearcats in the first inning.
"I still think our guys are really special," Golloway said. "I think (Trey) Wingenter starting it out was just a little nervous, but settled in really well."
Auburn was able to keep the scoreboard tied at 2-2 until the Bearcats pulled away in the fifth.
"That's what we tell the guys," Golloway said. "Don't let that scoreboard keep you from being able to focus both on the mound, at the pate or defensively."
Auburn's right-hander Kevin Davis only stayed in the game for five pitches after throwing four straight balls to his first batter and hit the second one with a pitch in the fifth inning.
Jacob Milliman took the mound with runners on first and second and no outs after Davis was pulled.
The senior gave up a three-run homerun over the left field fence on his second pitch to give his opponents the 5-2 lead, but settled down and struck out his second and third batters to close out the inning.
Auburn had a good start in the fifth inning offensively, but the offense missed some big opportunities to score.
With the bases loaded and only one out, JUCO transfer Bo Decker and redshirt sophomore Ben Craft could not deliver, and left three runners stranded on the base path, but the Tigers did came away with a point.
"I thought we had some good at bats," Golloway said. "We struck out too many times clearly. We just can't do that. We've got to cut down and make two strike adjustments and put the ball in play. You can't have that many strikeouts and find success."
Tigers chipped away at the Bearcats with right-hander Kevin Davis, who kept the Bearcats scoreless in the sixth inning.
Auburn's offense got going in the bottom of the sixth after a sophomore Damon Haecker ripped a pitch down the first base line and junior Sam Gillikin hit a hot shot off the pitchers glove for a close call single.
Gillikin hit a sac fly to drive in Haecker, but Auburn was still behind.
The Tigers went to the bullpen once again in the top of the seventh inning and put in left-handed pitcher Will Thompson, who had a short leash like the other five pitchers and wasn't productive.
With one out, and Bearcats at the corners, Auburn put in right-hander Dalton Rentz in the sixth.
Binghamton started to close the book as sophomore Brenden Skidmore smashed one of Rentz's pitches into center field to drive in two runs and extend their lead to 7-4.
The damage was done, but the Bearcats weren't.
Rentz gave up a single and walked one hitter to start a tough eighth inning, which ended in another Bearcat scoring off a bad throw to home plate from Decker.
With men on second and third, left-hander Issac Yarbrough took the mound for the Tigers.
The first Binghamton batter that the junior faced smoked a triple to right field, bringing in two more runs.
"Yarborough pitched well for one inning and when he fell apart, he had trouble getting his focus back," Golloway said.
Auburn didn't get out of the inning before giving up four more runs to the Bearcats.
The Tigers managed to make it a six-run affair in the bottom of the eighth.
After a sliding triple from Haecker, Gillikin drove in the sophomore to make it 11-5.
It was a 1,2,3 inning for Yarborough in the top of the ninth, but the Tigers' offense could not make anything out of their last chance to score.
Auburn will have a rubber match with the Bearcats Sunday, Feb. 15, in the final game of the weekend series at Plainsman Park.
(02/24/15 12:15am)
Auburn's pitching staff dominated Binghamton Friday afternoon, Feb. 13, as the Tigers shutout the Bearcats 2-0 at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers stranded a few key runners who were in position to score, but the bullpen took control after an early homerun from a returning star.
Sophomore ace Keegan Thompson settled in early and retired the first 11 batters after junior right fielder Jordan Ebert hit a deep shot over Plainsman Park's green monster in the first inning to give the Tigers momentum on opening day in front of 2,705 fans.
"We pitched the ball really well," said head coach Sunny Galloway. "I thought all three of them were really efficient. We didn't want to over evaluate. We wanted to come out and find victory, and we did."
Thompson had a no-hitter through the first three innings, but allowed his first hit in the top of the fourth inning to senior outfielder Jake Thomas.
"I felt good," Thompson said. "I kind of struggled at first on my fastball command. It's the first game so not everyone is on their game every time."
Junior college transfer Bo Decker started out dangerous at the plate in his first appearance for the Tigers, finishing 2-4.
The newcomer was Auburn's designated hitter, but Galloway said he has a chance to start at left field.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Decker ripped a slow-hanging curveball to left field for a double and was eventually drove in to score by sophomore catcher Blake Logan to extend the Tigers' lead to 2-0.
"We had some quality left-handed hitters that we could of hit," Galloway said. "We knew there guy was a slider guy. Bo did a good job. He stayed on some balls and swung it pretty good."
Decker wasn't the only Tiger hitting attacking the ball at the plate.
Besides Ebert's bomb over the green monster in the first inning, sophomore center fielder Anfernee Grier hit a hot shot off left field wall and slid in safely for a double in the third inning, although the Tigers couldn't score from the play.
"I thought we hit some balls hard early," Galloway said. "The first two batters hit the ball hard. Jordan (Ebert) got it out of the yard."
It was the most strikeouts for Auburn's pitching staff since they had 16 against Florida Atlantic in 2010.
While Thompson recorded the win after finishing with five strikeouts and no walks, other pitchers stepped up to maintain the victory.
The Tigers decided to save Thompson's arm in the fifth inning and replaced him with Cole Lipscomb, who finished with eight strikeouts. The four-inning relief appearance was the redshirt sophomore's longest outing of his career.
Lipscomb was tested in the top of the sixth inning when the Bearcats had their first runners in scoring position with two outs.
After a brief settle-down from new pitching coach Tom Holliday, the right-handed pitcher struck out junior Reed Gamache to end the inning.
Junior right-hander Justin Camp closed things out for the Tigers as he struck out two Bearcats in the ninth to get the save and give Auburn their first win of the season.
"Keegan was very efficient with his pitch count," Galloway said. "Cole Lipscomb had to get out of jam. Camp just came in on the back end. He's a max effort guy. He fits that role really well."
(02/23/15 10:31pm)
A strong bullpen led by sophomore Keegan Thompson and new pitching coach Tom Holliday could provide some cushion for the offense, but a cohesive outfield is what the Tigers might find themselves leaning on in 2015.
Junior right fielder Jordan Ebert, junior left fielder Sam Gillikin and sophomore center fielder Anfernee Grier could be as valuable for keeping runners from crossing home plate as they will be for driving runners in this season.
Head coach Sunny Golloway calls the Foley, Hoover and Phenix City natives the "Alabama Trio."
"I've said going in that the Alabama Trio will be the starting outfield," Golloway said. "It's a pretty neat thing, pretty special."
The Trio has shifted positions this year to upgrade Auburn's defense.
Ebert moved from left to right field to take advantage of his strong throwing arm. Gillikin moved from right to left field and Grier, who played on both sides last year, will learn the walls at center field.
"We feel like they settled in to where they are at now," Golloway said. "They feel more comfortable in those positions."
The team is looking for another great year from Ebert, who led the team with a .351 batting average last season.
The SEC's top returning hitter could have tried his hand in professional baseball, being draft eligible, but decided to take another swing at Auburn after going 28-28 last season and missing the SEC Tournament.
"(Ebert) had a really good year last year," Gillikin said. "He's going to have to be a guy that steps up and wins games for us, and he knows he is that guy."
Gillikin, who hit .214 with five doubles, four RBIs and was perfect in 30 outfield chances through 24 games as a sophomore, may have as much potential as anyone on the team, according to Golloway.
"(Gillikin) is someone that professional baseball has talked a lot about," Golloway said. "He's got no ceiling. The sky is the limit for him."
Grier missed 16 games last season after injuring his hand in the Missouri series. Sitting on the bench with his hand wrapped dealt a huge blow to Auburn's offense, but he returned strong and hit .255 with one home run and 11 RBIs to finish the season.
Golloway has preached "Omaha" since he was named Auburn's 17th head baseball coach June 14, 2013.
The Tigers did not even reach the doorstep of a championship last year, but the "Alabama Trio" has the potential on offense and defense for a turnaround season.
"Our expectations are try to get to 40 wins and get to postseason," Golloway said. "That is what it is going to take to get to Omaha. We got an Alabama trio out there and they all need to step up and play well, and potentially they can."
(02/24/15 1:53am)
Coming back from a 28-28 record last season, Auburn baseball is projected to return to Plainsman Park a stronger team, starting with their opener Friday, Feb. 13 against Binghamton.
Head coach Sunny Galloway said things are different this season for his players.
"Our attitude and our effort have been outstanding," Golloway said. "This is a special group. They're a close-knit bunch, and they'll do what you ask."
Through practices, Golloway said he believes the team has worked hard to fill the gaps in pitching as well as infield positioning.
As far as starting pitchers go, Golloway said he has a strong group lined up that should be able to get the job done.
"We've identified Keegan (Thompson) as our No. 1," Golloway said. "There's four of five guys that can win the other starting roles... Our pitching has been pretty special."
In addition to his pitching squad, Golloway introduced a way to save time when switching pitchers off the mound.
"When you inner squad and you've got somebody like Keegan pitching, you do what we call in practice," Golloway said. "You just turn it over."
Additionally, Golloway said he has decided to count Thompson's pitches during game time to make sure he gets full rest and can perform to his best ability.
"That [pitch counting] would keep him in a pre-season type form before we really turn him loose," Golloway said.
Coming back from an injury last season, Thompson said he believes this new system will benefit his performance.
"Getting hurt was probably one of the better things that happened," Thompson said. "It gave me time to rest and recover."
In regard to the rest of the team's starting lineup, Golloway said he has worked in the infield with Kyler Deese at first base, Melvin Gray at second base and Alex Polston at third. A new addition to the team, Cody Nulph, will take the shortstop position. Coming from Orange Coast College, Nulph has Division I experience to bring to the team.
"I think it helps me out a lot," Nulph said. "You really know what to expect just because I've been there, and I think that's really gonna help me this year."
Returning starters will play outfield this season, including Jordan Ebert in right field, Anfernee Grier at center field, and either Sam Gillikin or Bo Decker in left field.
Although Golloway said he is hopeful for the opening series, the team still has work to do.
"We're not where we want to be, but we're not where we used to be," Golloway said.
(02/23/15 11:17pm)
Keegan Thompson, a sophomore pitcher and infielder for the Auburn baseball team, was named to the watch list for the 2015 Golden Spikes Award on Tuesday Feb. 10.
The Golden Spikes Award is given each year to the top amateur baseball player in the country, and it is based on athletic ability and sportsmanship.
Thompson, who was named to both the All-SEC Freshman and Freshman All-American teams last season, led the team both in strikeouts, with 73, and in ERA, with 2.03. He also held opposing hitters to a .192 batting average.
He and the rest of the Tigers open the season Friday at 3 p.m. against Binghamton at Plainsman Park.
(02/24/15 2:17pm)
The 11th Annual Celebrity Home Run Derby took place at Plainsman Park Friday, benefiting the Hudson Family Foundation, which supports children and families in need throughout Alabama and Georgia.
The event, put on by Auburn baseball legend Tim Hudson, was won by fellow former Auburn baseball great Gabe Gross.
Gross hit seven out of the park in the first round, putting him in a playoff with former Tiger and SEC Player of the Year Hunter Morris. In the playoff, Gross hit only one, but Morris wasn't able to send one over the wall, giving Gross his second derby victory.
Other participants included former All-SEC catcher Ryan Jenkins, All-SEC outfielder Trent Mummey, Wes Helms, Auburn hitting coach Greg Norton, American League All-Star Josh Donaldson, and Hudson.
Mummey hit four homeruns to come in third place, Donaldson had two and Norton had one. Hudson, Jenkins and Helms all were unable to put one in the parking lot.
Donaldson said it was an honor for him to get to participate.
"Auburn obviously holds a special place in my heart," Donaldson said. "To be able to come back here and help Huddy and this foundation, anything I can do to help him, I'll do it."
Donaldson said that Hudson is one of the best people he's met in baseball career.
"He's accomplished so much in baseball," Donaldson said. "He's done a lot of great things to reperesent Auburn and his last name. That kind of stuff doesn't get made up about you. He's earned that."
Hudson addressed the crowed prior to the event to show his appreciation.
"I want to thank you for coming out and supporting our foundation," Hudson said. "Every year, this home run derby gets a little bigger and little better. Our foundation is something that's really special to Kim and I, we've been able to help a lot of families. We can't do it without people like you coming out and supporting us."
(02/25/15 6:07pm)
Juggling the demands of a graduate school accounting major and a newborn child is no easy task, let alone for a college athlete who is also training for his final season.
Those demands eventually caught up to Patrick Savage, who decided to quit the team in February after four years with the Auburn baseball program.
The departure, according to Savage, was smooth and respectful on both sides.
"(Auburn head coach Sunny Golloway) was completely okay with my decision and respected it and was fine with me parting ways," Savage said. "You can ask any coach that was in that room. I shook their hand, looked them in the eye and they told me I was welcome back, then that was it."
But Savage wasn't the only player to have a meeting with Golloway.
According to former pitcher Jay Wade, a number of players, including Chase Williamson and Hunter Kelley, were called in for meetings with the coaching staff after a 3-2 loss to East Tennessee State.
"It was kind of cloudy because we didn't really find out what was said," Wade said. "Several players were called in for meetings, and some players decided that was where they wanted to draw the line and stop playing. One was released by a coaching decision."
In the end, Kelley was dismissed from the team. Williamson, like Savage, decided to leave of his own accord.
Golloway hinted at roster minimization after a previous loss to California, but the first-year head coach got straight to the point with the media after the extra innings loss to ETSU.
"If we're going to end up having some cancer in our clubhouse, we're going to end up having to cut that out and move forward," Golloway said.
Media reports on the departures quoted Golloway blaming attitude and effort as the reason for the minimization, which Savage said was false and misleading.
"To hear that in the media just blew my mind," Savage said. "I don't know if it was a cop out or what, but you can ask any of the kids in the locker room. I was a part of this program for a long time and for him to go out and say that, whether or not it was directed at the person he dismissed directly, it seemed like I was grouped in that group."
Golloway declined to talk to The Plainsman about the situation.
Though Savage was not recruited to Auburn by Golloway, the Suwannee, Georgia native said he never had an issue with the new coach's stricter program.
Instead, Savage said he took issue with the way Golloway handled player issues in the media, citing the 'cancer' quote and the general 'airing of dirty laundry' as prime concerns.
"He definitely used what had happened with the one player, who was technically dismissed, and then lumped the other players together into it to make it sound like there was a ton of bad things going on that I and many other people didn't see going on," Savage said. "That's not how my meeting with him went and you can ask every coach who was there that it never went that way."
Savage, who was Auburn's 2014 recipient of the Brad Davis SEC Community Service Award, said media reports tying him to player dismissals have created problems as he seeks employment.
"It makes me look bad because, for a future employer to type my name in online and it come up with 'Auburn baseball, three players no longer with the team,' then I have to tell them that that's not how it went," Savage said. "It's entirely false how it was portrayed and the fact that he was able make it into sounding like I had done something wrong really upset me."
Now graduated with his CPA license and looking to settle down with his wife and child, Savage said he hopes to put to bed rumors that his dismissal was due to internal conflicts with the coaching staff.
"It was more of a personal decision than anything, it wasn't like I was clashing or anything," Savage said. "I was overwhelmed with stuff on my plate and the fact that he made it out to seem like us three were a problem was ridiculous."
(05/18/12 3:39am)
In a pivotal game one of the final SEC series of the year the Tigers fell to the Gators 6-0.
(05/17/12 10:00am)
The Diamond Dolls not only cheer on the Auburn baseball team, but they also raise money for cancer research.
(04/26/12 10:00am)
Ty Megahee was raised with a baseball in one hand and a bat in the other.
(04/19/12 10:00am)
With two on and two out in the top of the ninth, Creede Simpson stepped up to the plate to try and keep the Tigers' hopes alive as they faced Clemson in a 2010 regional matchup.
(04/16/12 8:06pm)
With two on and two out in the top of the ninth, Creede Simpson stepped up to the plate to try and keep the Tiger's hopes alive as they faced Clemson in a 2010 Regional matchup.
(04/05/12 10:00am)
After a 17-11 start, Auburn baseball travels to Tuscaloosa Friday to begin a three-game series against the 10-19 Crimson Tide.
(04/02/12 5:16am)
The No. 24 Auburn Tigers have caught their stride, outlasting Mississippi State with an 8-2 win Sunday afternoon. The victory clinched the series for the Tigers, marking their third straight SEC series win, a first for Auburn since 2003.
(04/01/12 2:40am)
The No. 24 Auburn Tigers defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday 10-6 in the second game of their third straight SEC West series to even the series at 1-1.
(04/01/12 2:38am)
Late game scoring and a solid defense allowed the Mississippi State Bulldogs to defeat the Auburn Tigers 5-3 Friday night at Plainsman Park.